Enantioselective divergent approaches to both (−)-platensimycin and (−)-platencin

Enantioselective divergent approaches to (−)-platencin and (−)-platensimycin have been developed. A rationally designed chiral synthetic intermediate, possessing a useful α,β-unsaturated sulfone functionality, which served as a masked ketone as well as a good Michael acceptor, was successfully prepared via the highly enantioselective catalytic asymmetric intramolecular cyclopropanation (CAIMCP) developed in our laboratory.